Oyster-opener.



I A. F. WHITE DIAMOND.

OYSTER OPENER.

' APPLICATION FILED 1116.7. 1909.

956,049. PatentedApr. 26, 1910.

W2 attoonup UNITED srrarns grnnr OFFICE.

ALFRED F. WHITE DIAMOND, OF SLOCOMB, ALABAMA.

OYSTER-OPENER.

enter the shell and sever the adductor muscle of the oyster thus releasing the j aws thereof and permitting the shell to be opened. Its

objects are to provide an oyster opener that will perform the functions above described, in a manner that will eliminate all of the injury which has heretofore been inflicted upon the hands of the shucker.

With the above and other objects in View, this invention consists in the construction, arrangement, and combination of parts, all as hereinafter more fully described, specifically claimed, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein,-

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a device constructed after my improved and novel method, having portions broken away. Fig. 2 is a rear end elevation of the same. Fig. 3 is a transverse section of the knife. Fig. 4: is a side elevation of the end upright showing a modification of the same. Fig. 5' is a transverse section taken on line 55, of Fig. 4.

The oyster holder forming the subject matter of this invention comprises a sup-l Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed August 7, 1909.

frame comprises a base plate 3 secured by the rivet 4 to any support or table, an up- Tight 2 at one end of the .base plate and an upwardly projecting stud 5 at the other end of the base late, the stud having a vertically extending centrally disposed slot (3 therein and the upright 2 having a transverse groove 21 in its inner face to receive the oyster.

The stud 5 is tapered inwardly at its noper extremity to form a seat for the rack 7, the upper face of which is semi-circular in form and has teeth 8 cut therein, while the lower face has an angular recess 9 adapted to receive the stud 5, of a similar configuration, and is held thereon by the set screw 10 carried in one side thereof.

The knife-supporting arm indicated in Patented Apr. 26, 1910.

Serial No. 511,835.

general as A comprises a pair of upwardly extending plates 11 connected together at their lower extremities, and pivoted thereby in a slot 6, by the bolt 12 and at their upper extremities by a similar member 13 providing a means whereby the knife may be pivotally clamped therebetween.

To provide a means whereby the knifesupporting arm A may be rigidly held in any desired position, there is interposed between the plates 11, the rotatable pawl 14 so constructed that it has on its oppositely disposed faces the projecting lugs 15 adapted to engage the teeth 8 of the rack 7, thus when the pawl is retained in a stationary position, it will, through the instrumentality of the lug l5 and the teeth 8 on the rack, hold the support A in a rigid position. This pawl is retained in a stationary position by the transverse pins 16 engaged in the recess 17 in the inner faces of the plates 11, and is pivotally held between the plates by the bolt 18.

The knife forming the direct means whereby the oyster is opened comprises a handle portion 19 on the outer side of the support A and downwardly curved to form a tapered wedge shaped knife 20 oppositely disposed thereto.-

The modification appearing in Figs. at and 5 comprises a dove-tailed projection 23 adapted to be engaged by asimilarly formed recess 24: in the upright 2, thus allowing the latter to be moved longitudinally upon the plate 3 and consequently provide a double adjustment of the openers to open either oysters or clams. A set screw 22 pierces the side of the upright 2 and engages the sides of the jack or projection 23, thus rigidly securing the apparatus in any desired position in relation to.the plate 3.

From the foregoing it will be readily seen that the oyster is placed in the position shown in Fig. 1 being manually held therein, while the support A is lifted, disengaging the tooth 15 from the rack 8 and permitting the former to be adjusted to the size of the oyster. The knife 20 is then brought into contact with the shell and which, due to its tapering construction will force the jaws apart and will enter the oyster severing the adductor muscle of the same permitting the oyster to be opened, thus without any waste or loss of juice.

It will further be noticed that should the tooth 15 become broken or worn, the plates 11 may be taken apart and the pawl 14 rotated bringing the oppositely disposed tooth 15 into engagement with the rack 7.

A further advantage is obtained by the present invention in having the rack 7 removable inasmuch as the same is subject to strains which will in the course of operation damage the teeth.

Having thus fully described my invention what I claim as new and desire to se-- cure by U. S. Letters Patent is 1. An oyster opener comprising a supporting frame having a vertical retaining member at one extremity, and an upwardly projecting stud at the other, an arm pivoted to said stud, and a knife pivotally secured at the upper extremity of said arm.

2. In an oyster opener of the class clescribed, the combination with a supporting frame having an upwardly projecting vertically slotted stud at one extremity, of a knife-supporting arm pivotally secured to said stud, a knife rotatably carried at the upper extremity thereof, and means whereby said arm may be rigidly held in any desired position.

3. In an oyster opener of the class described, the combination with a supporting frame having an upwardly projecting vertically slotted stud, of a rack detachably carried by said stud, a knife supporting arm pivoted to said stud and having a pawl therein adapted to engage the teeth of the said rack, and a knife pivotally supported at the upper extremity of said supporting arm.

4. In an oyster opener of the class described, the combination with a supporting frame, of an upwardly projecting, stud at one extremity having a vertical slot at one end, and its upper terminal tapered inwardly, a segmental rack detachably secured to said stud, a knife supporting member pivotally secured to said stud having a rotatable pawl disposed therein, said pawl having teeth thereon adapted to engage said rack, and a knife carried at the upper extremity of said arm.

5. In an oyster opener of the class described, the combination with a supporting frame, of an upwardly projecting stud at one extremity having a vertical slot at one end, and its upper terminal tapered inwardly, a segmental rack having a recess in its lower face of the configuration of said stud, and a set screw in one transverse side thereof, a knife-supporting arm comprising vertically extending plates, having a knife interposed therebetween at theirupper extremities, and secured together at their its lower face of the configuration of said.

stud, and a set, screw in one transverse side thereof, a knife-supporting arm comprising vertically extendingrecessed plates having a knife interposed therebetween at their up per extremities, they being secured at their lower ends by a pin adapted to be received in the slot in said stud, and a rotatable pawl engaging the said rack having transverse pins therein received by said recess.

7. In an oyster opener of the class described, the combination with a supporting frame, of an upright on one extremity hav-' ing a transverse groove therein, an upwardly projecting stud oppositely disposed thereto having a vertical slot therein, and at its upper terminal tapered inwardly, a'segmental rack having a recess in its lower face for the reception of said stud, a set screw in one transverse face thereof, a knife supporting arm comprising vertically extending recessed plates having a knife I interposed therebetween at their upper extremities, said arms being secured at their lower extremities by a pin adapted to be received in a slot in said stud, and a rotatable pawl having op positely disposed teeth adapted to engage said rack and transverse pins to engage said recess. 7

8. In an oyster opener of the class de-, scribed, the combination with a supporting frame, of a longitudinally extending key formed on one extremity thereof, a vertical 1 upright having a transverse channel therein and a dove-tailed opening at its lower extremity adapted to operate on said key, a set screw in one side of said upright adapted to engage the said key, a knife opposite to said upright having a pivoted fulcrum, and means whereby the knife support may be retained at any angle to the supporting frame.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto affixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

ALFRED F. WHITE DIAMOND.

Witnesses:

B. H. MEADOWS, J. A. HARowIoK. 

